Backgrounder: How is CPC Central Committee elected?

BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will elect a new Central Committee before the congress concludes Tuesday.

The National Congress and the Central Committee it elects represent the highest leading body of the Party, according to the CPC Constitution.

When the National Congress is not in session, the Central Committee carries out its resolutions, directs the entire work of the Party and represents the Party in its external relations.

The Central Committee meets in plenary session at least once a year, and such sessions are convened by its Political Bureau. The Political Bureau reports its work to these sessions and accepts their oversight.

The Central Committee is elected for a term of five years.

The Party Constitution stipulates that members and alternate members of the Central Committee must have a Party standing of five years or more.

According to the Party Constitution, the election shall be held by secret ballot.

The number of members and alternate members of the Central Committee shall be determined by the National Congress.

Tuo Zhen, spokesman for the 19th CPC congress, said the method of multi-candidate competitive election will be applied.